Gary Meers, Ed.D.

About me

I am an Education Advisor/Consultant for MaxKnowledge. I write courses that assist in the professional development of career college instructors. These courses range in content from the introductory level to advanced instructional development. I started my teaching career as an instructional technology teacher on the high school level, completed graduate school and then moved into higher education. I spent many years in the area of teacher training at the University of Nebraska. While at the University of Nebraska I stared working with career college instructors to improve their instructional delivery skills. As a result of these experiences I have been a consultant to career colleges throughout the United States and a number of foreign countries.

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Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Adapting Your Instructional Strategy

Hi Robert, Good way to let your students use their newly acquired knowledge. They see it, hear about it and then match it. This will make their ability to match colors so much more real for them as well as developing their expertise. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Understanding Learner Characteristics

Hi Charlotte, You make a good point about the need to adapt the instructional delivery to the needs of specific students. By traveling between different student populations like you do you get to see how you need to do different things in order to reach the students. This is great experience for any instructor to have. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making a Positive First Impression

Hi Lilly, This is a great student contact model. It is consistent and supportive. Thank you for sharing it with us to use as a model in our own classrooms. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Instructor REFOCUS

Hi Bill, Good comments about the need to have a talk with ourselves when we loose focus or drift from our desire to be as effective as we can be. This talk can serve to get us excited about our students and our field once again. Teaching is still a great opportunity to educate the next generation even with all of the challenges that come our way. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructor REFOCUS

Hi Sevan, Good point about we instructors needing to bring are maximum effort to class each time. It is easy to drop into a rut and not show the students a dedicated professional educator. We can't afford to let this happen because the students won't progress and we will be cheating our students of learning opportunities. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Feeling Accepted Helps with Success

Hi Joy, This is important point that every instructor needs to keep in mind. Students that feel on the "outside" will quit much easier. If they see an instructor that cares about them and their success then they will stay engaged longer leading to successful course completion. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Adapting Your Instructional Strategy

Hi Summer, You make a very good point about how learners need to "connect the dots" between life experiences and what they are currently learning. If they can get into or relate to the right schemas then content retention is going to be much higher. Helping to make these kinds of connections is a fun part of being an instructor. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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The Learning Environment Effect

Hi Laureen, Great point. This is the human side of being an instructor. Students that see their instructor in such a light know they can go to such an instructor for support and guidance when needed. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Your Instructional Style

Hi Gladys, Good point about also being a guide to your students. This is an important role because you have the life and career experiences to help prepare students to be successful when they leave school. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Katrina, Good to hear of your success so far in teaching. Each time you teach a course you will be able to add some new strategies in relation to delivery and you will increase your effectiveness as an instructor. This is what professional development is all about--continued growth. Gary

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